Queen Elizabeth Islands

The Queen Elizabeth Islands are a major sub-archipelago of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, located in the high Arctic of northern Canada. They encompass many large islands including Ellesmere and Devon and are characterized by Arctic landscapes.

The region is remote and visited mainly by scientific expeditions and specialized Arctic tours; attractions are large ice caps, glacier systems and polar desert environments. There are very few permanent settlements and travel requires careful logistical planning and permits.

European exploration intensified in the 19th and early 20th centuries during Arctic expeditions; scientific stations and surveying followed later. Sovereignty and research activities have been important through the 20th century into the present.

The islands lie north of mainland Canada within Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, bordering the Arctic Ocean and largely above the Arctic Circle in Canada’s far north.

• Climate and habitation: The islands are largely uninhabited and characterized by polar climate, extensive glaciers and permafrost, with very limited permanent settlements.

What to See #

• Ellesmere Island: The largest island in the group, located at the northeastern edge of the archipelago and noted for its polar desert and glaciers.
• Devon Island: A large, ice-scoured island that is largely uninhabited and used for scientific research and Arctic geology studies; noted as the world's largest uninhabited island.